Special Guests

The perfect ratio — our intimate event ensures that you will have an opportunity to ride shoulder to shoulder in the peloton with the pros.

2017 Special Guests

Dave Zabriskie

Dave Zabriskie is a recently retired professional cyclist with a 15 year career. Dave competed and won stages during the Tour de France, Vuelta Espana, and Giro di Italia. He is a record breaking 7-time National Time Trial champion, earning him the nickname "Captian America" and multiple podium finisher in World Time Trial Championship. Dave won stages and podium finished in the Tour of California nearly every year he competed.

Dave is one of the Worlds most popular cyclists not only for his race results, but also for his multifaceted ventures. As a result of being hit by cars five times and the countless others who are injured, or worse yet, killed each year, Dave created —“YIELD TO LIFE”— a non-profit dedicated to helping keeping cyclists safe on the road, promoting cycling as a healthy and environmentally-friendly lifestyle and ensuring the safety of those who cycle. Dave's goal is to prevent the senseless accidents that keep occurring between motorists and cyclists by heightening awareness, fostering respect, and strengthening understanding between and among all those who use the roads. Yield to Life works with corporations, bike clubs, bike shops, truck companies, car companies, police departments, driver education programs, schools, and universities to educate motorists and cyclists alike on their respective rights and how to safely use the same roads.

Cycling safety is not the only issue Dave has combated. After struggling with his own chamois issues and writing popular main-taint-enance articles, Dave decided to fulfill a long standing dream to create the world’s best chamois cream. In 2008, he did just that when he launched DZNUTS – a premium chamois cream company making specially formulated chamois creams for men, and through popular demand has expanded to a woman’s line, DZNUTS Bliss as well as an embrocation line. DZNUTS has sponsored the best Pro Tour Teams in the world as well as the best professional cyclists and is popular with pros and non-pros alike.

Alison Powers

Alison Powers, owner of ALP Cycles Coaching, has been coaching cyclists for 9 years. She brings an unparalleled knowledge and skill base to cycling and bike racing. After 7 years on the US Ski Team as a downhill ski racer, Alison raced bikes professionally for 8 years. She is a USA Cycling Level 2 certified coach, has a TrainingPeaks Level 1 certification, and is certified as both a Road and Cyclocross racing coach from USA Cycling.

Alison is the only person in history to win all three road discipline Nationals championships in one year (2014). These three national championships go along with having two previous National Championships (Time Trial 2008, Team Pursuit 2008), 2 NRC titles (2009, 2013), 2nd place at Leadville 100 (2013, 7:26 hours), and a true love for sports and conditioning for sports.

Neil Shirley

During a 10-year professional racing career (three years on the mountain bike and seven years on the road) Neil achieved podium finishes at both the USPRO National Road Championship and Cross Country MTB National Championships. With a preference for hilly races over criteriums, other results include the Climber's Jersey at Tour of Utah plus a stage win and second overall, the Climber's Jersey at Philadelphia Invitational, a stage win and fifth overall at Cascade Classic, and second in the climbers competition at Tour de Georgia. After retiring in 2010 Neil stayed close to his racing roots with an editorial position at Road Bike Action Magazine for six years. He now works closely with a few marquee brands to help spread cycling cheer far and wide.

Kathryn Bertine

Kathryn is an accomplished author, activist, filmmaker and athlete. As a pro cyclist, Kathryn raced for 5 professional UCI teams between 2012-2016. She is a former columnist and editor for ESPN, as well as an author of three sports memoirs. Her documentary film, Half The Road, debuted in 2014 and paved the way for change in women's pro cycling. As an advocate for equality in women’s sports, Kathryn started the movement of Le Tour Entier in 2013 in an effort to bring parity to women’s professional road cycling, starting with the Tour de France. On July 27, 2014 the pro women of road cycling raced on the Champs-Elysees two hours before the men’s Tour de France concluded their final stage. She now serves as CEO of Homestretch Foundation, a nonprofit organization located in Tucson that helps female pro cyclists who struggle with salary inequity. www.kathrynbertine.com

David Brinton

David Brinton is a former professional cyclist who competed in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, won three World Championships, set two World Records, and won nine National Championships. He is known for being a highly skilled and diverse cyclist. As a boy he won over 100 bicycle motocross trophies and toured Southern California on a freestyle stunt team. Following his retirement from professional competition, he worked as a Hollywood Stuntman jumping cars, crashing, and performing other stunts in more than 120 movies, TV shows, and commercials. David is also an accomplished cycling coach and motivational speaker.

Brenda Lyons

Although Brenda raced bicycles professionally from 2004-2009; she has an even longer history in the sport of cycling. She and her brothers started racing BMX in 1980. At the time, BMX was predominantly a male sport, so Brenda found herself gravitating towards team sports with other females. She excelled at Field Hockey in High School, earning herself a college scholarship. Years later, after her son was born, Brenda “rediscovered” cycling through triathlon and mountain biking. Racing mountain bikes led her to try road racing. Brenda quickly became hooked on racing road bikes because, unlike mountain bike racing and triathlon, road racing had team dynamics, which she loved. It was not common for a then 33 year old to enter into racing professionally, especially while juggling single-motherhood and a full-time Yoga teaching career. But Brenda persevered, and was privileged to sign with great teams, providing her the opportunity to race around the US and in Europe with, and against, some of the best women in the sport. Brenda was a consistent podium finisher on the US Circuit and a Bronze medalist in the US Criterium National Championships. For the last ten years Brenda has been part of the growing list females who work in the bike industry, and has proudly been with Pioneer since the start of 2014.

Soren Krebs

Born in Denmark and raised in Italy where he got his first bike at age 3 (a white Graziella with training wheels) and has never been off the bike since!Growing up through the ranks of the Italian Junior Team he eventually made his way back to Denmark where he joined Team Fakta (which later became Team Jack & Jones, then Team CSC and finally Team Tinkoff/Saxo Bank). Soren specialized in week long and one day races (the Spring Classics) were his role was to protect the Team Captain and cover attacks and/or create or prevent them. Although Soren retired in the early 90's he can be seen nearly everyday riding in the Santa Monica Moutains.

Ayesha McGowan

Ayesha started riding bikes as a commuter while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since then, she has submerged herself into the world of cycling. While living Brooklyn, NY, she worked as preschool music teacher, a Branding Administrator for WE Bike NYC, an organization geared towards getting more women on bicycles, and Director of Programs for InTandem, an organization that provides access to bike rides for people with disabilities. In 2014, after advocacy led her to a celebration for Evelyn Stevens, she discovered the world of bike racing. She won her first state championship in her third race. It didn't take long for her to notice that she was one of very few females of African-American descent on the scene. In fact, she discovered that there had not been a single African-American pro road cyclist, ever. She has taken it upon herself to become the first.

The Serious Cycling Race Team

The Serious Cycling race team will be on hand to keep the pace enjoyable and under control. Our goal is to provide the expeirence of riding in the pro peloton with a smooth and steady pace the first 80km of DAY ONE.